Welcome back to Friday Favorites where each week I’ll ask you to post an excerpt about a favorite.  Last week was favorite hero.  This week it’s the ladies turn.  Tell me about your favorite heroine.

Who is the favorite feisty heroine you’ve written?  We’ve probably written both–the ass-kicking, gun/sword toting, drinks-like-a-man, self-assured heroine and her counterpart, who’s not a doormat, but an intelligent, warm, loving heroine who has the strength of steel beneath the soft facade.

I’ve written a couple of these gals, though only one has actually carried a weapon.  The others use their wits and wiles to get their way, with the same determined spirit.  You don’t always have to literally kick-ass to kick-ass. 🙂
My favorite feisty heroine, however, is Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam from my upcoming release, Only Scandal Will Do.  Kat was raised in the wild society of 18th century Virginia and taught to fence and shoot from a tender age.  She’s fearless, intelligent, beautiful and determined to let no man decide her destiny.  Even after being compromised by the Marquess of Dalbury, she refuses to do the conventional thing and marry him.

Kat shook her head slowly. “What on earth do you believe you could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely and irrevocably.”

He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only myself to offer, my lady.”

“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life. I understand the English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.” Kat was astonished when he lurched backward, as from a blow.

“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said, sounding grimly amused. “Though indeed that would probably give you most satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”

His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”

“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”

“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even entertain the suggestion was insulting.

The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read displeasure there just the same. “You judge me solely on one act that, I assure you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of husband I would be.”

“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”

And just wait until you see her with a blade in her hand!  She’s a force to be reckoned   with–Dalbury has no idea what he’s letting himself in for.  LOL

Now, why don’t you tell me about your favorite feisty heroine?  Decide which of your kick-ass gals  you’d like to introduce everyone to, and choose a snippet about this character to share about her. (A snippet from your manuscript would be awesome, but if you’re not comfortable with that, you can choose to do a character sketch–something to show us your character and writing.)  And if you’re not an author or just can’t decide, tell me about a heroine you’ve read who really made you stand up and cheer. (Outside of my novels, Diana, Countess of Arradale from Devilish is the heroine I most adore.)  Can’t wait to see your favorites again!